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ECOWAS, Interpol to conduct training on uniform standards for crime statistics usage

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Abuja, 14th September 2018. The Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the International Police Organisation (INTERPOL) are to conduct training of National Focal Points on uniform standards for gathering, reporting and sharing of crime statistics.

This is part of the outcomes of the Two-Day West African Police Chiefs Committee (WAPCCO) technical sub-committee meeting on training and coordination which ended on the 13th of September 2018 in Abuja, Nigeria.

Following the meeting, INTERPOL and the ECOWAS Commission are also to continuously support joint training and operations for Law Enforcement Agents, taking gender into consideration.

On their part, Member States will be required to submit quarterly report on crime statistics to the ECOWAS Commission through the Permanent Secretariat of WAPCCO while participants from Member States are to serve as primary or secondary focal points to ensure, support and coordination of crime statistics report to WAPCCO Secretariat.

Other recommendations emanating from the meeting include the nod given to the ECOWAS Commission to “promote harmonization of legislation, complementary legal and regulatory frameworks to enable joint police operations on Transnational Organised Crime (TOC) be conducted smoothly”

Member States were also urged to utilize available platforms for information sharing including the West African Police Information System (WAPIS) and INTERPOL. They are to strengthen land, maritime, and air border security to tackle crime effectively while ensuring that all cars receive INTERPOL clearance certificate.

The INTERPOL Regional Bureau was prevailed upon to promote the integration and use of INTERPOL’s criminal databases with national crime systems and strengthen links between National Central Bureaus (NCBs) and all Law Enforcement Agents.

Broadly, the police chief urged ECOWAS to strengthen regional police cooperation through WAPCCO and ensure budgetary allocation for annual meetings of WAPCCO and its Sub-Committees. This is in addition to strengthening interregional cooperation between WAPCCO and the Central African Police Chiefs Committee (CAPCCO) in combating TOC.

The ECOWAS Commission was further urged to send crime statistics template to Member States for reporting while it will in conjunction with the INTERPOL, organize joint operations on drug control among The Gambia, Guinea Bissau and Senegal.

Participants also took a critical look at crime statistics reporting format and modalities for regional joint police operations

In his closing remarks, the Head, INTERPOL Regional Bureau Mr. Kedji Marcellin Abbe thanked participants for their valuable contributions and reiterated that the outcomes and recommendations of the meeting will be submitted to WAPCCO.

ECOWAS Commission’s senior officials thanked participants for their patience and frankness in discussions. The same sentiments were retained by the Chair of WAPCCO Technical Sub-Committee on Training and Operations DCP Lanre Bankole.

The police chiefs had gathered to explore ways of fostering cooperation among police officers specialized in Training and Operations from Member States with a view to reinforcing regional capacities to effectively combat transnational organized crime.

Apart from electing their bureau, the participants took note of the presentation of Status of Implementation of Previous Sub-Committee’s Report as well as the Presentation of Country Crime Statistics and Reports.

Member States also reported on crime trends and noted areas with increasing or decreasing crime statistics and the reasons for such trends. Challenges, achievements and suggestions for improvement were proffered.


ECOWAS meeting of experts of regional organisations on the Sahel opens in Abuja

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Commissioner Apraku (M) Mamadou Diarrah (R) and Madjiguene Dia (L)

Abuja 17th September 2018. The Meeting of experts of the regional organisations on the Sahel being convened by the Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) opened in Abuja, Nigeria on the 17th of September 2018.

Organised by the ECOWAS Commission in collaboration with the African Union (AU) and the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS), the meeting is meant to stakeholders on recent institutional development in the Sahel, Identify priorities and opportunities for joint projects and their implementation challenges, while developing both a framework for effective resource mobilisation and a pathway for their efficient execution.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the ECOWAS Commission’s Commissioner for Macroeconomic Policy and Economic Research Dr. Kofi Konadu Apraku noted that the Sahel region is inhabited by over 300 million people across while 7 of its 10 countries are Member States of ECOWAS with the consequence that negative developments in the Sahel directly impact on all states of the community.

The Commissioner itemised the challenges of the Sahel to include economic weaknesses leading to extreme poverty, frequent food and nutrition crisis, political instability, conflicts, high population growth rates, weak public institutions, irregular migration and related crimes such as human trafficking and migrant smuggling, also violent extremism which is now posing serious security challenges with the potential spill-over effects growing beyond the frontiers of the region.

Whole session of participants

He stated that the ECOWAS Commission is convinced that “an integrated approach is needed to deal with the issues of peace and security, governance, and economic development” hence it is continuing in its efforts aimed at improving social, economic, political and security situation in order to improve the living conditions while enhancing the sustainable development of the people of the region.

According to Commissioner Apraku, it is the firm belief of ECOWAS that an integrated “multi-focused development strategy involving several development actors and organisations has the best chance of succeeding in the Sahel region”

Thus, he maintains that, the essence of cooperation by the regional organisations is “to build a much broader framework of support and synergy with other actors in the execution of the task ahead”

Commissioner Apradu especially stressed that the need to strengthen inter-institutional and regional cooperation has arisen from the fact that the situation in the Sahel remains fragile despite the numerous efforts and strategies to improve security, promote good governance and socio-economic development in the area.

In his presentation, the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Adviser for the Sahel Ibrahim Thiaw drew attention to the opportunities that exist in the Sahel which calls for a change of dynamics with more focus on disrupting the current trajectory.

He cited Energy as a critical game changer in the reality check on increasing productivity while remaining conscious of the international geopolitics that is being played in the Sahel.

The ECOWAS Sahel strategy is structured around the three main pillars of infrastructural development, sustainable agricultural productivity and food security and accessibility to education based on affordability and quality which estimated project cost for these and other themes such as peace and security and good governance has been put at about $4.7 billion.  ECOWAS Heads of State and Government had at their Ordinary Summit of July 2013 in Abuja, Nigeria, adopted the Sahel strategy for the stabilisation and development of the Sahel Sub-Saharan region.

ECOWAS calls for increased coordination to address security and developmental challenges in Sahel region

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R-L H.E. Pierre Buyoya, General Francis Behanzin Representing President of the ECOWAS Commission and Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas

Abuja, 18th September 2018. The Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) along with regional and international organizations have reiterated their commitment to addressing challenges such as terrorism, climate change, poverty, food insecurity and illicit trafficking in the Sahel region by harmonizing their approaches and improving coordination in the implementation of their strategies.

This was the major recommendation of a high level meeting of regional organizations on the Sahel which held in Abuja, Nigeria on 18th September, 2018.

The meeting which was organized in collaboration with the African Union (AU) and the United Nations Office for West Africa and the Sahel (UNOWAS) called for advocacy policies to facilitate the mobilization of resources from regional and international partners to support joint programs and projects in the Sahel region.

Representing the President of the ECOWAS Commission, Jean-Claude Kassi Brou, the Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, General Francis Behanzin stated that the security situation in the Sahel coupled with socio-economic problems brought about by poor infrastructure, poverty and climate change have threaten the peace of both Sahelian and non-Sahelian states.

Group picture of participants

However, ‘the ECOWAS Sahel Strategy which has an action plan of 31 priority projects in the areas of infrastructure, food security, education and peace and security costing and estimated $4.75 billion would help create economic stability in the region’, he said.

Echoing the Commissioner, the Special Representative of the Secretary General for West Africa and Sahel, Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, stated that only by harmonizing the partnership between the various organizations, building synergy and developing joint interventions can the Sahel region attain lasting peace, security and sustainable development.

Dr. Chambas further stressed that, this has become very important as violent and terrorist activities as well as conflicts between nomadic herders and farmers have taken an alarming toll on the population.

‘The violence related to pastoralism is particularly concerning, as it increases in frequency, intensity, complexity and geographic scope’, he added.

The representative of the African Union for Mali and the Sahel, Mr. Pierre Buyoya, noted that to attain this, the organizations and Member States must coordinate their activities and avoid wastage of resources as a huge amount of resources are required to achieve the desired results in the region.

Cross section of participants
Participants during the opening session of the meeting

The meeting concluded with a press conference with dignitaries present shedding more light to journalists on the initiatives and steps being taken jointly to improve the living conditions of people in the Sahel.

The high level meeting of regional organizations on the Sahel was preceded by an experts meeting that reviewed recent developments in the Sahel and analyzed the priorities and challenges to implementation strategies in the region.

ECOWAS Commission calls for energised regional leadership on meteorological, hydrological and climate services

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Commissioner Sekou Sangare with an official

Abidjan, 19th September 2018. The Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has called for an energised leadership that can strengthen meteorological, hydrological and climate services to meet the aspiration of the over 300 million people of West Africa.

Making the call at the start of a three-Day regional hydromet Forum and a Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) platform in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire on the 19th of September 2018, the Commission’s Commissioner, Social Affairs and Gender Siga Fatima Jagne said it has become imperative for the regional leadership to have “a collective focus of undivided attention” in this regard.

The twin event is organized by the ECOWAS Commission in collaboration with the Government of Cote d’Ivoire, the World Bank and other relevant partners to engender a safer, healthier environment and a greater capacity for resilience of the citizenry in the face of prevalent natural upheavals.

Commissioner Siga Fatima Jagne (m), flanked by Djime Adoum,Joseph Mukabana,Michel Laloge,Pierre Laporte and Soro Bakari

Commissioner Jagne submitted that the collective approach to environmental best practices and shared knowledge has to be understood as embodying “a global public good” for climate risk management, climate adaptation and disaster risk management.

All efforts, she noted further, should be made to coordinate and integrate better to achieve the desired impact of building and strengthening the resilience of nations and communities to extreme events and disasters triggered by climate change.

Madam Jagne was supported at the Forum by her counterpart in charge of Agriculture, Water and Environment, Commissioner Sékou Sangare who pledged best exertions by the ECOWAS Commission in meeting the challenges of hydromet services.

Further, Commissioner Jagne held that in order for the prevailing vulnerability not to constitute a major threat to growth and jeopardize recent economic development gains, the coordination, planning and policy advisory capacity for DRR of the African Regional Economic Communities and Member States must be strengthened.

According to her, the challenge of limited resources at the disposal of Member States “is further compounded by the absence of adequate and reliable real time disaster and climate related data and information and their effective integration into national and sector level public investment strategies and early warning systems”

Group photograph of participants

To exit the gloomy times, Jagne recommended on behalf of the President of the ECOWAS Commission Jean-Claude Kassi Brou, the modernization and improvement of hydrological and metrological services in Member States of the regional Community to spearhead innovative and customized solutions to the identified challenges.

Dignitaries, experts and heads of institutions also took turns during the opening ceremony to update participants on the hydromet state of affairs. The Country Director, World Bank in charge of Cote d’Ivoire, Benin, Burkina Faso, Guinea and Togo, Mr. Pierre Laporte, alerted that by 2010, more than 180 million people in Africa will be prone to disaster even as more than 85 million of them are already living in risk prone areas.

Urging a review of hydromet services on the continent, he disclosed that the 54 hydromet Centres currently functioning are underfunded with deteriorating facilities. The scenario, he stressed requires a modernization of the hydromet systems while prioritizing building of the capacity of the hydromet services as part of the paradigm shift.

On his part, the Director, Climate Change and Green Growth, of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Dr. Antony Nyong, told the participants that if the national governments and the regional community are not planning with climate change in mind, then “they must be planning to fail” He said it was for this, and among other reasons that the bank put in $30 million towards strengthening the five regional climate Centres on the continent.

Declaring the forum open, the Ivorian Minister of Transport Amadou Kone who was represented by Director of Cabinet Soro Bakari called for a consolidation of the current efforts aimed at improving hydromet services in the region.

The Forum featured high level sessions, presentations, panel discussions and technical presentations on themes relevant to the objectives of the exercise.

 

ECOWAS forum urges modernisation of hydromet and disaster risk management services

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Commissioner Jagne reading the communique

Abidjan, 21 September 2018. Representatives of ECOWAS Member States’ institutions, in conjunction with disaster and climate resilience building stakeholders, have urged for a modernization of hydromet and disaster risk management services in West Africa.

 

The meteorology, hydrology and Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) stakeholders are also requesting in this regard, the scaling up of efforts by the development partners including the World Bank, European Union (EU), and other United Nations (UN) organisations, in line with needs and priorities expressed by ECOWAS, Permanent Interstate Committee for Drought Control in the Sahel (CILSS), River Basin Organizations as well as national governments in the region.

 

A set of far-reaching recommendations made at the end of their 3-Day regional hydromet Forum and DRR platform in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire on the evening of the 21st of September 2018, bordered on the need for firmer political commitment, resource mobilisation and allocation, a workable funding strategy as well as increased advocacy on reliable disaster data management best practices.

 

Specifically, the delegates who also comprise members of the Bureau of African Ministerial Conference on Meteorology (AMCOMET), requested the high officials of the ECOWAS Commission who were on hand, to bring their resolutions to the attention of the President of the Commission and of the ECOWAS Parliament “for endorsement and action”

Commissioner Jagne (3rd L), Michel Lologe, (1st L), Pierre Laporte(2nd L), Dr. Djime Adoum (1st L), Commissioner Sangare(2nd R), Sacko (3rd R),

They maintained that since there is an “increasing demand for customized weather, water and climate services to build resilience in communities and economies and provide effective early warning for the ECOWAS region” the modernization of every aspect of the entire value chain of hydromet systems and services with advanced weather prediction techniques, will bring innovation and engender a better response to end user needs in the ECOWAS region.

 

As part of the envisaged new hydromet order, the more than 200 participants recommended the promotion of a conducive environment for building and exchanging academic and research expertise as well as continued professional education on weather, water, climate and disaster risk reduction in the ECOWAS Member States.

 

Importantly, and in support of sustainable development, they urged the promotion of a “robust and meaningful gender mainstreaming and the inclusion of youth and community based organizations” in the design and implementation of integrated approaches for weather, water, climate and disaster risk management services.

 

They noted that the call for a sense of urgency in dealing with the regional hydromet needs, is in recognition that about 70 percent of disasters in the ECOWAS region are caused by severe weather and climate events whereas hydromet services are transboundary and multidisciplinary in nature.

 

Prior to the emergence of the recommendations, there were multiple high-level plenary sessions commencing with moderation by the ECOWAS Commission’s Director, Humanitarian affairs Dr. Florence Iheme and with corresponding panel discussions by selected experts and resource persons.

 

These were on themes such as the status of weather, water and disaster management services in West Africa, the integration of policies, strategies and institutions in support of effective early warning, financing whether, climate and early warning services, exchange of country best practices and lessons learnt on national DRR programmes, strengthening regional initiatives, projects and programmes, harnessing partnerships and private sector as well as an appraisal of the Sendai framework for monitoring and evaluation.

 

In the communique of the Forum read by the ECOWAS Commission’s Commissioner for Social Affairs and Gender Siga Fatima Jagne, the germane issues of safeguarding the environment and human lives in consciousness of the responsibilities of national governments, regional organisations and the people were highlighted.

 

Bringing the forum to a close, the Minister of Transport of Cote d’Ivoire Amadou Kone said this is now “the time to shift from words to action” He was supported at the podium by the Chair of the AMCOMET bureau and minister of agriculture and environment of Carbo Verde, Gilberto Correia Silva.

 

The Forum was also attended by the United Nations Resident Representative MR. Babacar Cisse, the World Bank Country Director Pierre Laporte, Executive Secretary of CILSS, Dr. Djime Adoum, the Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), Dr. Petteri Taalas, the African Union Commissioner for rural economy and agriculture Josepha Lionel Sacko as well as Head of Cooperation, European Union (EU) Michel Laloge.

 

Before rising, the participants stressed the important need for hydromet and disaster risk management services to meet the objectives of the ECOWAS DRR Strategy and ECOWAS DRR Plan of Action 2015-2030, ECOWAS Water Resources Policy, ECOWAS Environmental Policy, ECOWAS Agriculture Policy, ECOWAS Early Warning Strategy; the ECOWAS Hydromet Program, among others.

ECOWAS adopts design scheme for the development of a new Headquarters complex for the Commission

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L-r – Vice President Finda Koroma, the Chairman, Musa Nuhu and Mr. Vafolay Tulay

Abuja, 22nd September 2018. Ministers for Infrastructure, Works and Housing form Member States of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have adopted a design scheme for the development of a new Headquarters complex for the Commission that will be built in the Federal Capital Territory of Nigeria- Abuja by the Chinese government through a $31.5 million grant.

The meeting of the ad-hoc Ministerial Committee on the construction of Community institutions which held on 22nd September 2018 in Abuja, Nigeria, saw their representatives adopt a design scheme in order to commence the development of the final design which will be produced with the input of the Commission and Member States.

The ECOWAS Commission’s commissioner for General Administration and Conferences Vafolay Tulay, who presented three design schemes to the Ministers, stated that criteria such as site optimization, functionality, safety and security and the requirements of the Commission were taken into account while adopting the design scheme.

The Ministers recommended that the final design of the new Headquarters Complex should not only integrate elements of West African culture but must also comply with international and Nigeria’s standards and specifications of construction.

Furthermore, the Ministers also recommended that the design for the new Headquarters complex should have the expansion of the Commission in view while being developed. ‘The design should take into consideration functionalities and coordination consistent with the needs of the Community’, they said.

A cross section of Ministers from members states
Ministers from members states

The Commissioner for Infrastructure, Pathe Gueye, in his remarks added that the Commission would enlist a consultant/quality control firm to assist ECOWAS with the final design to ensure that the building meets all the required standards and is of the highest quality.

Mr.Gueye further stressed the need for there to be good coordination between ECOWAS, Nigeria and the Chinese government in order for the project to be executed smoothly.

The Chairman of the meeting of the ad-hoc Ministerial Committee Mr. Musa Nuhu, head of the ECOWAS National Unit, Nigeria, assured the Commission of the full support of the Nigerian government in the implementation of the project.

The Ministerial Committee also approved the design for the second and third phase of the development of the ECOWAS Standby Force (ESF) logistics depot in Lungi, Sierra Leone.

The meeting of the ad-hoc Ministerial Committee was preceded by a meeting of experts which held on 21st September 2018 in Abuja.

Also in attendance, Madam Finda Koroma, the Vice President of the ECOWAS Commission reiterated the commitment of the Commission towards the implementation of these two projects as she described them as being of great importance to the Community.

ECOWAS begins main planning conference for its Command Post Exercise- JIGUI IV

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l-r Phidelia Amey, Col. Ollo Alain Pale, Dr. Chijioke W. Wigwe, Dr, Cyriaque Agynekethom, Major General PJ Dauke, Major Gen.Hassan Lai and Major General Usman Yusuf

Abuja, 24th September 2018  . The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in its bid to test the capacity of its Standby Force (ESF) to conduct strategic and operational level planning for multidimensional Peace Support Operations (PSO) in the region has commenced the Main Planning Conference (MPC) for its Command Post Exercise (CPX) Code-name JIGUI IV scheduled to hold in 2019.

The 5-day MPC which began on 24th September 2018 at the National Defence College (NDC) in Abuja, Nigeria will see representatives from Members States and ECOWAS Training Centres of Excellence (TCE) finalize the Exercise Plan for the CPX.

The participants are also expected to work in syndicate groups to further develop the exercise scenario, assess technical details such as Communication and Information Services (CIS), the public information and media strategy, real-life support and the Main Events List and Main Incidents List (MEL-MIL) of the Exercise.

A Cross section of participants

Representing the ECOWAS Commission’s Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security, General Francis Behanzin, the Director of Peace keeping and Regional Security, Dr, Cyriaque Agnekethom, assured the participants of the Commission’s commitment to ensure that the CPX is conducted successfully.

Dr. Agnekethom expressed his confidence in the capacity of the representatives from Security agencies from Member States to plan and execute the CPX- JIGUI IV.

On his part, the representative of the commandant of the NDC, Major General Peter Dauke stated that,’ ECOWAS’ move to sustain the Full Operational Capacity (FOC) of the ESF rapid deployment is invaluable in today’s unstable world which is ravaged by a plethora of armed conflicts’.

A group picture of participants of the MPC

‘The CPX which is being organized in collaboration with the African Union(AU) and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) is key to the preservation of humanity through the maintenance of international peace and security’, he said.

Also speaking during the opening session of the meeting, the Peace and Security Advisor- GIZ, Mrs. Phidelia Amey expressed her optimism that the MPC will build on the results of the Initial Planning Conference (IPC)which held in November 2017.

The CPX-JIGUI IV which will make use of the CARANA scenario is the fourth Command Post Exercise to be conducted by ECOWAS. It also aims to exercise Command and Control of deployed forces on a simulated ECOWAS/AU mandated Peace Support operation.

Technical meeting on the operationalisation of the ECOWAS child protection framework commences

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Dr. Bolanle Adetoun (L) and madam Aisha Usman

Abuja, 26th of September, 2018. A two-Day technical meeting on the operationalization of the Child Protection Framework of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) commenced on the 26th of September 2018 in Abuja, Nigeria.

The meeting is meant among others, to examine ways of popularising the ECOWAS Strategic Framework for Strengthening National Child Protection Systems to prevent and respond to violence, abuse as well as exploitation against children in West Africa.

In her opening remarks, the ECOWAS Commission’s Director, Gender Dr. Sintiki Ugbe noted that as a cross-cutting issue, child protection also has human rights connection with corresponding implications for the physical, social and mental development of the child.

Represented by the Principal Programme Officer, Gender and Child Dr. Bolanle Adetoun, she maintained that child protection response must necessarily percolate to all segments of the society beginning from the family, local and community groups, faith-based organisations, among others.

This she stressed, is in addition to the involvement of governments at the local, national, regional and global levels.

“Children are our heritage and future. We need to address their issues for posterity and the effective functioning of society. Child rights are indeed our future and all hands should be on deck to safeguard the future” she added.

Apart from helping to achieve buy-ins to the Framework by different partners, the meeting was also called to devise means of sensitising participants on the content and context of the ECOWAS strategic Framework.

Group photograph of participants

Broadly, the Framework seeks to strengthen National Child Protection Systems, encourage mainstreaming of child protection into all relevant programmes carried out in the Member States, build synergy and promote collaboration in all child protection-related activities within the ECOWAS Commission and Community.

The meeting featured an overview of a workable strategy towards attaining desirable goals as well as presentation by Dr. Adetoun on strengthening child protection systems across the region to prevent and respond to risks and vulnerabilities facing children.

Among the issues being examined at the meeting is the sensitisation of communities particularly with regards to the divergence of opinions on what constitute child abuse and underage marriage owing to differences in cultural settings.

The partners who are participating at the meeting include: UN Women, Plan International and Save the Children.

The strategic Framework on child protection was approved by the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government in 2017.


ECOWAS holds main planning conference for its Command Post Exercise

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l-r Amb. Dr.Chijioke W. Wigwe, Provost, Centre for Strategic Research and Studies, NDC_ Major General

Abuja, 28th September 2018 . The Directorate of Peace Keeping and Regional Security of the Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) in collaboration with Member States, Training Centres of Excellence (TCEs), the African Union (AU) and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) conducted the Main Planning Conference (MPC) for its Command Post Exercise (CPX) – JIGUI IV, which aims to test the Full Operational Capacity (FOC) of the ECOWAS Standby Force (ESF).

The 5-day meeting which ended on 28th September 2018 at the National Defence College in Abuja, Nigeria saw participants develop the Exercise plan, Exercise Structure and further develop the CARANA Scenario which is being used for the CPX.

The conference also availed participants the opportunity to further develop the technical communication plans for the Exercise, its public information and media strategy and logistic plans also known as ‘real life support’.

The Director of Peace Keeping and Regional security Dr, Cyriaque Agnekethom during his remarks at the close of the conference expressed his satisfaction with the input of the participants to improve on the strategies developed during the Initial Planning Conference which held in November 2017.

The Director expressed the commitment of the management of the Commission to ensure that the CPX takes place in line with the Exercise timelines which were also established during the conference.

The MPC is expected to be followed by the operational headquarters training scheduled to hold in October 2018 at Ecole de Maintien de la Paix Alioune Blondin Beye in Bamako, Mali as part of the build up to the Exercise.

The CPX JIGUI IV scheduled to take place in 2019 aims to test and enhance the capability of the ESF to conduct strategic and operational level planning for multidimensional operations and to exercise command and control of deployed forces on a simulated ECOWAS/ AU mandated Peace and Security Operation in the region.

ECOWAS deliberates on west Africa trade facilitation programme

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R-L Mr. Tiemtore Salifou, Director of Customs, ECOWAS, Mr. Tei Konzi, Paul Koffi Koffi, and Mrs. Kabran Tiemoko Rose, UEMOA

Abuja, 29th September 2018. The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) and development partners held their first steering committee meeting for the West Africa Trade Facilitation Programme which aims to improve trade facilitation measures and increase intra-regional trade in West Africa on 27th September 2018 in Abuja, Nigeria.

The meeting witnessed the approval of the work plan for the first year of the programme, the establishment of its governance structure and its communication strategy.

The ECOWAS Commission’s Commissioner for Trade, Customs and Free Movement, Tèi Konzi during the meeting stated that the West Africa Trade Facilitation Programme being a multi donor imitative showcases the importance placed on economic integration by the international community.

The Commissioner urged the donors- the European Union (EU), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Netherlands, Germany and the World Bank to take into account the political dynamics of the region and be flexible in the implementation of the programme in order to achieve its desired results.

Group Picture of participants

Similarly Mr. Paul Koffi the UEMOA Commissioner in charge of territorial administration, infrastructure and transportation and also acting Commissioner for Regional Market and Cooperation stressed the need for a multi-sectoral approach to trade development.

Mr. Koffi also welcomed the priority given by the programme to the development of transport infrastructure and the implementation of modern and more performant custom instruments.

Representing the EU, Mrs Nadia Cannata stated the programme being funded by the 11th European Development Fund (EDF) could serve as model for similar initiatives in other Regional Economic Communities.

 

Experts call for effective collaboration and networking on child protection

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Abuja, 2nd October 2018. Participants at the technical meeting on the operationalization of the Child Protection Framework of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) have called for effective collaboration and networking among all stakeholders.

Other recommendations of the meeting which ended on the 27th of September 2018 at the ECOWAS Commission Headquarters, Abuja, Nigeria, bordered on the need for a harmonized research and data collection, using reliable and validated instruments to plan for and solve problems relating to child protection.

Noting that continuous dialogue and engagement of all stakeholders on Child Protection have become necessary, participants further recommended a regime of resource distribution, accountability and good governance.

In addition to this, they maintained that focus should be on effective community engagement on the five priorities outlined in the regional child protection framework.

Having deliberated on the thematic presentations at length, relevant child protection issues were identified by the experts and representatives of ECOWAS Partners on child protection.

Some of the issues included peace education, child education in emergencies, food nutrition issues such as School Feeding, Child Labour in Agriculture as well as protection issues in the Social Media.

Before their recommendations were arrived at, an overview of the “ECOWAS Strategic Framework for Strengthening National Child Protection Systems to prevent and respond to Violence, abuse and exploitation against children in West Africa” was given.

There were also presentations on the situational analysis of child protection system in West Africa.

Issues of relevant and up-to date data, legal framework, resource mobilization as well as the appropriate communication strategy on child protection were also examined.

The report adopted at the end of the Two-Day meeting highlighted the gaps in the political commitment of Member States towards the implementation of international and regional legal frameworks.

Closing the meeting on behalf of the Commissioner for Social Affairs and Gender – Dr. Fatima Siga Jagne, the Principal Programme Officer for Gender and Child Dr. Bolanle Adetoun, thanked all the participants for their valuable interventions and inputs.

Stressing the need for the continuous mainstreaming of child protection issues in their work, she noted that being a cross-cutting theme involving many professionals and subject areas, an effective child-protection system, calls for action from all segments of society and governments.

In December, 2017 the ECOWAS Heads of State and Government approved the ECOWAS Strategic Framework for Strengthening National Child Protection Systems to prevent and respond to violence, abuse and exploitation against children in the region.

ECOWAS Commission urges for a more dynamic and flexible trade rules of origin

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Tèi Konzi (m), ECOWAS Director, of Customs Salifou Tiemtore, Amanda Bissong (r), Aboubakar Cisse (L) and Mr. Musa Nuhu

Abuja, 3rd October, 2018. The Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is looking forward to a more dynamic and flexible rules of origin which takes into account the interests of the economic operators in the region.

This disclosure was made by the Commission’s Commissioner for Trade, Customs and Free Movement Mr. Tèi Konzi at the opening of the Three-Day regional meeting of national experts on community rules of origin of ECOWAS in Abuja, Nigeria on the 3rd of October 2018.

The Commissioner told the national experts that it has become imperative to update the scheme through modifications, as the ECOWAS Commission cannot remain on the sidelines of all the development taking place within the context of the trade environment in which it operates.

According to the Commissioner, the developments which have brought about some changes include the conclusion of the Trade Facilitation Agreement, the advent of the Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) between Africa and the Caribbean, West Africa and the European Union as well as the Agreement establishing the African Free Trade Area.

Noting that there has been growing concerns by international trade actors on account of the agreements, Commissioner Konzi maintained that ECOWAS will not rest on its laurels despite the milestones reached with the establishment of the Free Trade Area, the entry into force of a Common External Tariff and the adoption of a Community Customs Code.

Indeed, he stressed that the achievements such as a functional Customs Union requires hard work in order to make it more perfect and sustainable.

Group photograph

He urged the experts to critically examine the draft Additional Act submitted before them and “bring all the possible work to make it an innovative text”

It draws heavily from the international instruments governing trade including the Revised Kyoto Convention, the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Origin Compendium, the Origin Certification Directive, the rules of origin of the EPA, and the rules of origin of the Zone de libre-échange continentale africaine (ZLECAF)

Welcoming delegates from 15-Member States to the meeting earlier, the Director of ECOWAS National Unit of the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr. Musa Nuhu stressed the importance of the gathering for the discussion of economic issues of interest to the region.

Mr. Nuhu who chaired the meeting, said the convergence is coming at a time “we are encouraging Member States to engage more in inter- state trade for the good of the citizens of West Africa”

Speaking in similar vein, the Head of Unit, Trade and Custom of the German development agency- Gesellschaft Für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) Ms Amanda Bissong,noted that it is pertinent for the rules of origin to be amended and reflect the changes that have occurred with the adoption of the ECOWAS Custom Code and other trade instruments.

Stressing that the focus should be on improving the efficiency of the scheme, she however said the efforts to promote trade need to be complemented by the necessary political will for effective implementation.

On his part, the head, Free Movement Division of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) Mr. Aboubakar Sidiki Cisse emphasized the benefits of greater collaboration in ensuring the rules of origin are compatible with the fair and beneficial regulations of trade in the region.

The work of the national experts embodying the additional Acts is expected to be presented to the meeting of Directors-General for onward consideration by the Ministers of Finance of the region.

NATIONAL EXPERTS VALIDATE DRAFT SUPPLEMENTARY ACTS ON COMMUNITY RULES OF ORIGIN

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Regional experts have validated the draft supplementary Act fixing community rules of origin and procedures applicable to goods originating in the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

When adopted, the validation, would among others repeal and replace Protocol A/P.1/01/03 dated 31 January 2003 which had defined the notion of products originating in ECOWAS Member States.

The review and validation are geared towards strengthening the ECOWAS Free Trade Area (FTA) and the idea of having flexible rules of origin in the region.

Alongside the revision of the community rules and procedures, the ECOWAS Commission hopes to update the recognition of origin through the exertions of the national experts in line with the region’s current economic situation.

This is in addition to the simplification of the origin recognition procedure by addressing all the issues that either appear to slow down the procedures or have become obstacles including the facilitation  of the Free Movement of Goods with new provisions on the certification of origin.

During the meeting, presentations were made and appraisals given by the experts who also examined the draft regulation on procedures for recognition and the certification of goods of Community origin in the ECOWAS region, with a careful consideration given to the texts article by article.

Broadly, through the various articles, the national experts examined how sufficiently processed or transformed were the products under consideration, the notion of originating industrial products, identification of originating industrial products, goods manufactured in free zones or under suspense or end-use procedures, principle of territoriality, Sets, the proof of Community Origin, Validity of the Proof of Origin, Control of the Proof of the Community Origin, repeal, Dispute resolution.

A major work done by the national experts also included the examination of the draft regulation on procedures for recognition and certification of goods of Community origin in the ECOWAS region. The draft was presented by the ECOWAS Commission.

Chairman Musa Nuhu

The draft document seeks (when adopted) to abrogate and replace the Regulation C/REG.3/4/02 of 23rd April 2002 establishing procedure for the approval of originating products to benefit from the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme as well as Regulation C/REG.4/4/02 of 23rd April 2002 adopting a certificate of origin of originating products of the Community.

Following the review of articles, participants made other proposals for the improvement of the draft regulation which are to be sent to Member States for further inputs.

Wrapping up the Three-Day meeting, the chair of session and Director of ECOWAS National Unit of the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mr. Musa Nuhu thanked the delegates for the seriousness with which they participated in the work.

The head, Free Movement Division of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) Mr. Aboubakar Sidiki Cisse praised the participants for the quality of the deliberation and the professionalism

On his part, the ECOWAS Commission’s Director of Customs Mr. Salifou Tiemtoré, who represented the Commissioner, Trade, Customs and Free Movement, congratulated participants for the meeting’s achievements. He also thanked WAEMU Commission for its participation.

The work of the national experts on the Supplementary Act is expected to be presented to the meeting of Directors-General for onward consideration by the Ministers of Finance of the region.

All 15 Member states, the ECOWAS Commission, the WAEMU Commission and the German Development Agency (GIZ) were also represented at the meeting.

Long session at the closing

ECOWAS COMMISSION BEGINS GENDER AND ELECTION VALIDATION WORKSHOP

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Dr. Ugbe (L) and Mr. Francis Oke

A Two-Day gender and election validation Workshop began on the 9th of October 2018 in Abuja, Nigeria.
The activity is meant to enhance the capacity of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to mainstream gender in elections in its 15-Member States.
Specifically, participants are examining the baseline Report on strengthening the regional organisation’s capacity to integrate gender into its peace and security architecture.
Welcoming the subject matter experts and officials of the ECOWAS Commission to the Workshop, the Commission’s Director, Gender Dr. Sintiki Ugbe stated that the task of mainstreaming gender into the electoral process is imperative for engendering good governance and economic development of the region.
Supported by the Head, ECOWAS Electoral Assistance Division Mr. Francis Oke, she stressed that it is in recognition of the fact that elections are important to democracy and good governance that the ECOWAS normative framework is charged with ensuring that gender mainstreaming has a place in the ECOWAS programmes and projects.
According to her, the task on hand is beyond women empowerment and the wining of elections even as participation in elections by women has positive bearing on the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the country.
“With this Workshop, we can put a mirror before ourselves and look at what we have been doing, where we are doing well, identify the challenges, and gaps, what needs improvement and possibly, workable action plans going forward” She added.
It was agreed at the plenary of the Workshop that West Africa is still below average in terms of women participation in the electoral processes while there remains valuable lessons to be learnt from the gender elections landscape on the continent.
During the course of the Workshop, participants will be examining the challenges and prospects of the internal institutional mainstreaming culture within the ECOWAS Commission, the gender and elections assessment by the ECOWAS electoral assistance Division including an assessment of the gender audit of the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC).
Also to be appraised is the interface between the short and long term election observation, political parties, youth and gender.
Other issues to be deliberated on include but is not limited to gender related capacity building for ECOWAS EAD and the ECONEC secretariats, incorporating gender in EAD’s activities and interactions with political parties and the specific activities relating to youth, gender and elections.
The Workshop which brings together representatives of West African civil society groups, a consultant and officials of the ECOWAS Commission, also hopes to achieve a better understanding of the gender considerations in elections at the regional and national levels.

Group photograph of participants

 

ECOWAS, EAC PARTAKE IN CONSULTATIVE MEETING TOWARDS THE POPULARIZATION OF THE AFRICAN UNION FREE MOVEMENT PROTOCOL

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The Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) through its Directorate of Free Movement has shared good practices in the implementation of its regional protocol in a stakeholders consultation meeting with the African Union (AU) and the East African Community (EAC) with the aim of accelerating the ratification and implementation of the AU free movement protocol by Member States.
The two-day stakeholders meeting which held ended on 10th October 2018 in Dakar, Senegal, also witnessed the recommendation of the harmonization of regional norms and free movement policies with the AU by 2020.
Representing the ECOWAS Commission’s Directorate of Free Movement, Dr.Tony Luka Elumelu also recommended that an agreement should to be enacted which would see the abolishment of Visa requirements amongst AU Member States.
Dr.Elumelu stressed that the requirement of a visa for an African to enter an AU Member State serves as a hindrance to achieving the seamless free movement of people, goods and services. ’This should be followed by the removal of residence permits and the implementation of the right of establishment in Member States’, he said.
In order to popularize the AU protocol relating to the free movement of persons, right of residence and right of establishment in Africa, Dr.Elumelu stated that it is important to foster the synergy among Regional Economic Communities (RECs), which will enable them review the regional texts and timelines for the implementation of the protocol.
He further urged the AU to make adequate provision for funds dedicated to free movement and migration, develop a communication strategy, establish a monitoring mechanism, information centres and develop a training curriculum for officers charged to enforce and implement its free movement protocol.
On her part, the Director of Social Sectors of the EAC, Mrs Mary Makoffu highlighted the need take into consideration the AU- Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA) as its purpose is to create a single continental market for goods, services and the free movement of business persons and investments.
The consultative meeting also featured a presentation by the representative of the ECOWAS Parliament, Dr. Sotuminu Adeshina on the role of regional parliaments in the ratification of the AU free movement protocol.
The Director of Political Affairs of the AU, Dr Khabele Matlosa informed the participants of the meeting that currently only one country, Rwanda, has ratified the Protocol. He stated that the AU needs at least fifteen Member States to ratify the Protocol for it to come into force.
However, he noted that the AU would ultimately move to ensure that its Protocol on free movement is signed by all Member States.
The recommendations of the stake holders meeting will be presented by the AU to Member States from West and East Africa for their consideration in a subsequent meeting on 11-12 October 2018 in Dakar, Senegal.

L-R Dr.Tony Elumelu, Dr. Khabele Matlosa, Mrs Mary Makoffu and Mr.Olabisi Dare (AU)

ECOWAS, EU, WAEMU HOLD STRATEGIC STEERING COMMITTEE MEETING FOR WEST AFRICA COMPETITIVENESS PROGRAMME

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The Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the European Union (EU), the West Africa Monetary Union (WAEMU) and representatives of West African countries held the first Strategic Steering committee of the West Africa Competitiveness programme on 8th and 9th October 2018 in Abuja, Nigeria.
The programme, with an overall budget of 120 million EURO, will focus on improving the business environment, the regional quality infrastructure, and in particular, the development of national and regional value chains to boost the economic integration and competitiveness of the region.
Building on earlier work and assisted by a number of implementing partners, the Programme will be rolled out in West Africa through concrete actions in individual countries and at the regional level.
In his remarks during the meeting, the ECOWAS Commission’s Commissioner for Industry and Private Sector Promotion, who is also the Chair of the Steering Committee, Mamadou Traore, stated that the implementation of the programme would cover all 15 ECOWAS Member States, as well as Mauritania.


The Commissioner noted the fact that low productivity due to supply side constraints is a major challenge facing countries in West Africa and the African continent as a whole. He highlighted a number of regional initiatives being driven by the ECOWAS Commission towards boosting investment, production and trade including the ECOWAS Common Investment Code, the West Africa Common Industrial Policy, the West Africa Quality Programme, the ECOWAS Trade Liberalization Scheme, and the ECOWAS Customs Code.

He explained that, the West Africa Competitiveness Programme has the potential to increase the capacity of our enterprises and transform or add substantial value and quality to our offers and products which in turn generate employment and wealth.
The objective of the programme is to strengthen the competitiveness of West Africa and enhance the countries’ integration into the regional and international trading system.

Group picture of participants

ECOWAS COMMISSION PRESIDENT RESTATES COMMITMENT TO QUALITY EDUCATION, TRAINING AND HARMONISATION OF SYSTEMS

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The promotion of access to quality education, training as well as the harmonisation of educational systems are very central to the renewed drive by the Commission of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to improve the region’s educational sector.

The President of the ECOWAS Commission Jean-Claude Kassi Brou made this known at the opening of a Three-Day West African Education Conference on the 9th of October 2018, in Abuja, Nigeria.

President Brou delivering his speech

President Brou told the gathering at the ECOWAS Commission headquarters that the core mandate of the Commission and indeed ECOWAS is to “embark on policies, programmes, projects and activities that enhance the social emancipation, poverty eradication and economic development through cooperation, integration and a common identity”.

He said it was for this reason that the ECOWAS education and training sector was established in 2003 with the objectives of providing all community citizens with greater access to quality education and training while harmonising the different components of educational training systems in the Member States.

He maintained that it was in order to provide the legal basis for interventions at different levels and spheres of education and facilitate the mobility of students, lecturers and labour across the region, that the Authority of Heads of State adopted the ECOWAS Protocol on Education and training and the convention on the recognition and equivalence of certificates.

The theme of the Conference is “Education for global relevance, regional integration and competitiveness”. Noting the theme’s aptness, President Brou said it is comparable to the educational priorities of the Commission and should be supported by all stakeholders including ECOWAS.

He stressed that the Commission has over the years embarked on policy dialogue, sensitisation, advocacy and scholarships for the education of girls and inclusion of other vulnerable groups adding that he was looking forward to further collaboration on the outcome of the conference.

With the aid of statistics, the president also noted that proper education is critical for the advancement of the West African region which has nearly 370 million (and over 60 percent being youth between 15 to 35 years)
ECOWAS, he assured, places high premium on education systems whose products are employable by modern industries and settings and can contribute to their respective Member States and the region in general.

school children entertaining at the event

In a keynote address, Special Representative of the Secretary-General, United Nations Office For West Africa And The Sahel (UNOWAS) Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas, stated instructively that the content of education, (both formal and informal) and the values it inculcates equally determine the resilience of individuals and societies and their ability to adapt to evolving circumstances as well as the vagaries of national and international adversity. Education determines the collective and individual shock absorbing capacities.

Going forward, he submitted among others that “effective collaboration will require a West African revision of regional educational vision and priorities to uplift the quality of life of its people and overcome various obstacles to development and varied threats to national and regional peace and stability”.

In her remarks, the President of the Nigerian Academy of Education Professor Elizabeth Eke noted that the similar educational problems which abound throughout West Africa “are so endemic that they do not make news anymore”

She noted that education is key to development and that West Africa operates four educational systems- British, French, American and Portuguese, she lamented that the region still bears the highest out-of-school numbers of children globally, a situation which is being made worse by insurgency and terrorism.

Giving a goodwill message, the executive Director of Africa Federation of Teaching Regulatory Authorities (AFTRA) Professor Steve Nwokeocha said the continental regulatory body is looking forward to a successful conference that will yield “new insights for the professionalization of teaching standards by all countries and promotion of teacher mobility for better education systems of member nations”

Declaring the conference open, the Nigerian Minister of Education, Malam Adamu Adamu stressed that West Africa needs education and training system that are more flexible than is currently the case.

Represented by professor Olusegun Ajiboye, the minister said the West African region urgently needs to key into the world of new technologies such as artificial intelligence, biotech even as education has to be developed for regional integration, political stability, cultural resilience as well as shared natural resources and labour mobility.

Group photograph of dignitaries

Article 1

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STATEMENT
H.E. Dr. Jean-Claude Kassi Brou
President of the ECOWAS COMMISSION
And
H.E. Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas
Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations for West Africa and the Sahel

The President of the ECOWAS Commission, Jean-Claude Kassi Brou and the Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations for West Africa and the Sahel, Mohamed Ibn Chambas held in Abuja, on 8 October 2018 their regular consultation on forthcoming elections in the ECOWAS Member States. They took note of the outcome of the presidential conventions of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) parties and reaffirmed ECOWAS and UN collaboration and commitment in support of the forthcoming February 2019 Nigerian general elections.
They congratulated the presidential candidate of the ruling party – the All Progressives Congress (APC), His Excellency President Muhammadu Buhari and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), His Excellency Atiku Abubakar, former Vice-President on their emergence as flagbearers from the primary elections conducted by their respective political parties. They also extended congratulations to all other presidential candidates already designated as flagbearers by their respective parties. They similarly wished them a successful campaigning period and entreated all candidates to embark on issue-based campaigns which would focus on their programmes for Nigerians.
All presidential flagbearers were encouraged to ensure violence-free elections by conducting campaigns devoid of hate speech, language likely to incite people to violence or any disruption of the electoral process. ECOWAS and the United Nations pledged to work with all Nigerian stakeholders for peaceful, credible, transparent and inclusive elections in February 2019.
Done at Abuja, 8 October 2018

EXPERTS EXAMINE THE ECOWAS GENDER AND ELECTIONS STRATEGIC FRAMEWORK QUESTIONAIRE

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Experts drawn from across the region are examining the Gender and Elections Strategic Framework of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The Two-Day exercise is meant among others, to bring to light, the challenges faced by the Election Management Bodies (EMBs) in the 15th ECOWAS Member States in promoting women participation in elections and fashion out strategies to address same using the developed questionnaire as the main tool of assessment.

Opening the technical meeting of the transformation team of the ECOWAS Gender and Elections Strategic Framework on the 11th of October 2018 in Abuja, Nigeria, the ECOWAS Director, Gender, Dr. Sintiki Ugbe noted that the EMBs are key to the implementation and enhancement of the Framework which came into being in 2017.

She said the meeting serves as a consultation platform enabling participants to look at the kind of questions to be sent to the EMBs so as to get a clear picture of what they are doing and to mainstream gender into their activities and programmes appropriately.

Dr. Sintiki further disclosed that a lot of issues have come up as work with the ECOWAS Network of Electoral Commissions (ECONEC) progressed which bordered on the nature, non-permanence, composition and operational modus of some of the EMBs .

She stressed that the meeting aims at adapting the Framework to gather necessary information that can be used as advocacy and even resource mobilization tools.

It is for this and other reasons, she maintained, that specialists in the meeting were selected to include gender, mediation, elections monitoring and communication experts give a critical look at these questions to see whether all of the arising issues are well covered.

The exercise before the experts, she noted, is akin to taking a snapshot to be present to the EMBs for a second look in order to check whether the identified essentials have been duly captured.

It was further disclosed that similar studies on gender have been done while there is a need to have realistic expectations once the tool is validated after engaging the EMBs.

“Now we are saying that peace and security is a major contributor to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). That is why there is no amount of money that you can give to the women in the North-East (of Nigeria) today that will solve their problem unless peace and security prevails in the area” Dr. Sintiki added.

Dr. Ugbe (R) flanked by Mr. Oke addressing the participants

The Head, ECOWAS’s Commission Electoral Assistance Division Mr. Francis Oke said the participants have been carefully selected to achieve envisaged result and wished them fruitful deliberations.

Presentations were made subject matter specialist Theophiluis Dowetin and gender and elections expert Antoinette Mbrou on assessing gender mainstreaming by the EMBs in electoral processes in West Africa.

The experts, specialists and resource persons including the Executive Director of Impact for Change and Development Dr. Naomi Akpan-Ita are interfacing against the background of the glaring state of gender paucity in election in West Africa with the relevance of political rights of women being often reduced to a dot point in election observer reports.

The ECOWAS Commission believes that although women and youth, make up the majority of the population and electorate, the electoral processes in most ECOWAS member States fail to sufficiently include women and youth thereby creating a need to deliberately pursue greater gender mainstreaming in electoral processes in the region.

The meeting is expected to do an update on the implementation of the ECOWAS Gender and Elections Strategic Framework.

The questionnaire (embodying 65 posers) being examined and improved upon are expected to be sent to the Focal Persons of the EMBs who have been categorized as primary sources of information.

Group photograph of participants

REGIONAL EXPERTS VALIDATE ECOFEST 2019 ROADMAP

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Participants at the 3-Day extended technical Workshop for the finalisation of the West African Festival of Arts and Culture (ECOFEST) have validated the proposed roadmap of the event on the 12th of October 2018, in Abuja, Nigeria.

After a review and enrichment of the project proposals, participants also decided that all stakeholders should ensure the “political reportage” of the event at the highest level of the two institutions collaborating to berth the festival- the Economic Community of West African states (ECOWAS) and the West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA).

In this regard, the ECOWAS and UEMOA Institutions have now set up a Regional Organization Committee (ROC) to coordinate the activities of ECOFEST 2019. The committee will also determine its attributions, composition and mode of operation.

Participants were agreed on the launch of ECOFEST with effective communication and befitting sideline events, ceremonies, artistic and traditional performances, visual arts, competitions, exhibitions, panels, popular animations and thematic fashion shows.

Urging those charged to proceed, as soon as possible, to name the host country of the event and the diligent execution of the parcel bill, they stressed the need to ensure that “appropriations are entered in the ECOWAS and UEMOA 2019 Budget for the implementation of the ECOFEST activity in 2019”

Other recommendations made by the participants included those on the invitation of Member States to support the initiative and make voluntary contributions for the timely holding of the event.
Also recommended is the implementation of specific lightened procedures for the financial management of the ECOFEST.

With regard to the financing component, the meeting recommended using the expertise of the relevant ECOWAS-UEMOA technical services to work out details of the identified aspects.

Declaring the Workshop closed, the chair of session and ECOWAS Commission’s commissioner for Education, Science and Culture Professor Leopoldo Amado, took notice of the results achieved at the workshop and thanked the participants for their expertise, foresight and enriching contributions.

Stating that he was impressed by the cultural policy and elated because of the accomplishments so far, the Commissioner however warned participants on the need to have an idea of threats and challenges as well as a reasonable budget in order to fully take charge of ECOFEST.

Participants at the Workshop were drawn from a pool of resource persons and experts in the organization of cultural events from Ghana, Senegal, Côte d’Ivoire, Burkina Faso, Nigeria and Niger, representatives of the Directorate of Culture and Tourism of the UEMOA Commission and ECOWAS Commission’s Departments of Finance, General Audit, Legal Affairs, External Relations, Communication, Gender and Humanitarian Affairs, Industry and Private Sector, Education, Science and Culture.

The collaboration by the Commissions of ECOWAS and UEMOA to organize ECOFEST is within the framework of their Joint Technical Secretariat (JTS). It stems from a decision of the Heads of State and Government of ECOWAS, through the Protocol A / P.1 / 87, establishing the Cultural Framework Agreement between the ECOWAS Member States.

The joint effort is considered a major landmark for the visibility of the cultural expressions of the region.

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